Hospitals urged: Adopt environment-friendly practices

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine hospitals are encouraged to adopt environment-friendly practices because of their substantial carbon footprint.

Linda Milan, a consultant of the Climate Change Commission on Green Hospital Project, is pushing for the inclusion of climate mitigation and adaptation measures in hospitals in the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

“It is important that we move fast to include green hospitals in the NCCAP,” Milan said at the opening yesterday of the Climate Change Consciousness Week in Pasay City, noting that the health sector’s global climate footprint is substantial.

Milan emphasized the importance of incorporating climate mitigation measures in hospitals.

“No one knows the precise size of the health sector’s global climate footprint, but it is substantial,” she said.

Milan said the health sector could play a leadership role in mitigating climate change.

She said hospitals could employ strategies to become climate-friendly such as changing their procurement policies and practices.

Hubert Lapuz, president of the Philippine Hospital Association, said their members are committed to the challenge of making hospitals climate-smart.

The group Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) said hospitals are large users of chemicals and energy.

Through its Global Green and Healthy Hospitals campaign, the HCWH has been helping hospitals effectively carry out greener and healthier solutions.